Water Treatment Plant and Neighbors See the Light of Day
NIMBY. Sure, go ahead and build that major residential, commercial, or industrial development project; just make sure it's Not In My Back Yard. The NIMBY tag is tossed about freely these days. Listen a bit more carefully, however, and what sounds at first like selfish carping by neighbors of a building site sometimes turns out to be the airing of legitimate, reasonable and sometimes unforeseen concerns. The right design and materials selection can accommodate those concerns and create a win-win for all.
That's what happened in West Lake Hills, Texas, when CasaBella Architects and engineering firm Camp Dresser McKee signed on to expand the Ullrich Water Treatment Plant for the city of Austin, right next door. In 2002, the existing plant was already right up against the border with West Lake Hills, a village of just over 3,000 people, and the proposed $72 million, 45,090-square-foot expansion was seen as a threat to some adjoining neighborhoods. The design team held public meetings that uncovered worries such as plant structures' proximity to homes, the impact of increased security lighting, and the potential loss of the neighborhood's long-cherished view of the Austin skyline.
At the same time, the plant also had to address the growing potable water needs of Austin and the surrounding utility district by increasing treatment capacity from 100 million gallons per day (mgd) to 160 mgd, with the ability to easily build out the 34-acre site to 225 mgd as future population trends demanded. Doing so meant the construction of two additional sedimentation basins, a five-story lime building, a chemical building, a larger electrical building to house additional pumps, and various other support facilities.
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To accommodate the competing needs of both the city and the homeowners, the plant's design underwent some very creative adjustments. To begin with, the bulk of the building was shortened by 15 feet; because only the five lime silos were allowed to protrude higher, both the real and perceived height of the overall plant was lowered. (This design change also yielded cost savings, as the plant's roof provided access to the silo tops, making additional structures or catwalks unnecessary.) In addition, plant equipment was located in the lower levels; the building, at its widest, could be at grade, becoming smaller and less imposing, in a stepping effect, as it rose.
The use of Kalwall mitigated another aspect of the plant's footprint upon the neighborhood: light pollution. The design called for Kalwall translucent panels on the building's tall and skinny north face. The panels made the most of this darker side, bringing in controlled natural daylight and creating a contrasting elevation. After dark the translucent panels glow warmly and prevent direct beam illumination from spilling into nearby neighborhoods. Kalwall also helps control brightness, glare and solar gain during the day, and the reduced need for artificial lighting saves energy costs. The thermally-broken panels' superior insulating properties control unnecessary heat gain or loss, thereby lowering HVAC system expenses.
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The design of the Ullrich Water Treatment Plant was so successful, it was recognized with an award from the Austin chapter of the American Institute of Architects. It's also a good example of how architecture can "play well with others". CasaBella Architects and Camp Dresser McKee took the time to learn how – talking to neighbors, hearing their concerns, making concessions. And with help from Kalwall, they'll keep the water flowing and the skyline glowing for generations to come.
Ullrich Water Treatment Plant
Architect: Camp Dresser McKee/Casabella Architects
Photo by Mike Osborne, Osborne Photography
Kalwall Specifications:
U-Value: .53 BTU/(hr/ft²/°F) = 3.0 W/m²K
Light Transmission: 20%
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient: 0.30
Exterior Panel Color: White
Interior Panel Color: White
For more information, contact:
Bruce Keller
Kalwall Corporation 603-627-3861 (800-258-9777 N. America)
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